In response to a speech Thursday by Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Mel Watt, U.S. Senator Bob Corker, a member of the Senate Banking Committee, said concerns about capital at government-sponsored enterprises Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are not reason to return to the failed housing finance model that existed before the GSEs went under government conservatorship.

“While I appreciate Director Watt weighing in on these important issues, I am concerned about the direction of some of his comments,” said Senator Corker. “I agree Congress has waited far too long to solve the last remaining issue of the financial crisis, and that the status quo remains unsustainable. Absent congressional action, the focus should be on continuing to de-risk the GSEs without taking steps that put us back on a path toward the failed model of private gains and public losses that existed prior to conservatorship. Such steps would be counterproductive and do little to protect American taxpayers and enhance market liquidity.”

The president’s recently released fiscal year 2017 budget request reiterates the administration’s support for bipartisan housing finance legislation passed by the Senate Banking Committee in the last congressional session. The bill, the Housing Finance Reform and Taxpayer Protection Act of 2014 (S.1217), passed the committee in May 2014 by a vote of 13 to 9 and was first introduced by Senator Corker and Senator Mark Warner (D-Va.) in June 2013.

The president’s budget also recognizes the Corker-Warner Jumpstart provision that “limits the ability to return to the dysfunctional system in effect prior to conservatorship, and reinforces the need to enact comprehensive reform.” Senators Corker and Warner successfully included the Jumpstart provision as part of the 2016 Omnibus legislation, which passed Congress in December 2016.

The historic Fort Wood Apartments have sold for $3,290,000. The sale was to Eh Fort Wood Llc from Rbr Properties Llc. The apartment building was built in the 1920s by Sam Read, operator of the Read House. His home was nearby on Vine Street. The complex was extensively restored in the 1980s. It includes a large tearoom. (click for more)

NOTICE: The Hamilton County Register’s Office did not publish this data. All information in the Register’s Office is public information as set out in T.C.A. 10-7-503. For questions regarding this report, please call Chattanoogan.com at 423 266-2325. GI numbers, listed when street addresses are not available, refer to the location of transactions (book number and page number) ... (click for more)

Former Chattanooga Mayor Bob Corker said Tuesday he will not seek another U.S. Senate term, but said "important public service" lies ahead. He said, “After much thought, consideration and family discussion over the past year, Elizabeth and I have decided that I will leave the United States Senate when my term expires at the end of 2018. “When ... (click for more)

One state legislator has drafted a bill to end pro sports incentives in Tennessee, while another said he won't attend any more Tennessee Titan games this season in the wake of the team's snub of the National Anthem. Rep. Judd Matheny said he has ordered legislation to be drafted and introduced to stop any and all future economic incentives to professional and amateur ... (click for more)

This Sunday, as has been widely reported, the Tennessee Titans and the Seattle Seahawks both chose to remain in their respective locker rooms during the playing of the National Anthem at Nissan Stadium. Besides the fact that the NFL game operations manual has a rule regarding player behavior during the playing of the National Anthem which requires them to stand at attention ... (click for more)

“Help me, sir!” 18-year-old Jesse Dietrich cried to his lieutenant. “Please sir, I need help …” the Private First Class begged as blood streamed from where the kid had been shot in the chest during an intense Taliban ambush. The platoon leader had just dragged the 18-year-old by his backpack down a dark alley in withering gunfire, all the while returning fire over the fallen soldier ... (click for more)